Robot Lobbyists Say Robots Good, Create jobs

I mean "Lobbyists for Robots" not robotic lobbyists.

From the International Federation of Robotics:
Robots Create Jobs

ROBOTICS will be a major driver for global job creation over the next five years.  The announcement is based on a study conducted by the market research firm, Metra Martech, "Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment". 

One million industrial robots currently in operation have been directly responsible for the creation of close to three million jobs, the study concluded. A growth in robot use over the next five years will result in the creation of one million high quality jobs around the world.  Robots will help to create jobs in some of the most critical industries of this century: consumer electronics, food, solar & wind power, and advanced battery manufacturing to name just a few. 

Industrial Robots save production locations and millions of jobs

In additional to the million jobs expected to be directly created by the increased use of robotics, the report´s authors also highlighted that saving manufacturing jobs also results in saving jobs throughout the community.  This means that restaurants, shops and the service economy also benefit from this valuable ripple effect.

In world terms three to five million of jobs would not exist if automation and robotics had not been developed to enable cost effective production of millions of electronic products, from Phones to Playstations." - "Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment" by Metra Martech November 2011

The Report highlights that between 2000-2008, manufacturing employment increased in nearly every major industrialised country, even as the use of robotics increased sharply.  This same pattern is now being seen in China, Brazil, and other emerging countries as they rapidly increase their use of robotics.  In Brazil, the number of robots almost quadrupled during the study period with both production and employment rising by over 20%The Report found that manufacturing employment is stronger in countries that continue to accelerate their robot investments. "The German and Japanese (automotive) manufacturers who have invested heavily in automation and robots have maintained a lead in the quality market.  Germany has increased the number of people employed in the automotive sector." - "Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment" by Metra Martech November 2012...

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It might just be me but the 2008 endpoint seems a bit dodgy and then there's the whole correlation  ≠ causation thing.

Here's the report:

Metra_Martech_Study_on_robots.pdf

Positive Impact of Industrial Robots on Employment